Acute ECG (POAC)

All Pinnacle practices in Te Whatu Ora Waikato region can claim for this service. 

• Treatment of patients with low risk undifferentiated chest pain (within 5 days of presentation) where the diagnosis is unclear, but the patient would otherwise be sent acutely to hospital for ECG. This funding does not cover the cost of a routine ECG

• Any patient who is not presenting acutely with low risk undifferentiated chest pain 

While an ECG is clinically indicated in many scenarios, this funding is solely for a patient who presents acutely for chest pain.

Exclusion criteria to access POAC funding should not preclude emergency treatment of any medical conditions. 

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. If the claim cannot be funded by POAC, the patient may be liable to the practice for the fees incurred. 

Prices listed below are GST inclusive. 

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Acute ECG and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

ECG: $64.89 
This invoice is a package of care i.e. it includes an allocation for staff time as well as consumables, it cannot be claimed along with any other claims. 

GP/NP/CP follow up: $81.37 or RN follow up: $40.17 or

Rural GP/NP/CP follow up: $91.67 or RN follow up: $50.47 or

This funding is available to those practices that receive rural funding. 

Afterhours GP/NP/CP follow up: $101.97 or RN follow up $60.77

This funding can be claimed when care is provided after 6pm, on weekends or on public holidays.

One follow-up consultation may be funded on the same day the ECG is done. This funds ECG interpretation and discussing the treatment plan with the patient, as evidenced in clinical notes. While the intention is for this to be the same day, it may be following laboratory results.

While follow up consultations can be virtual, to be eligible for funding, documentation needs to include a two-way conversation between the practice and the patient. A sent message with no documented response does not meet the definition of a consultation.

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of POAC funding.  

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented, especially where the diagnosis is undetermined. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient.  

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.